Post-Draft Needs: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have addressed some of their big needs in the NFL Draft, such as wide receiver and defensive end. In the first round of the draft, the Jaguars decided to trade up for wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who should inject a lot of talent into a woeful wide receiver group.

In the second round, the Jaguars picked up defensive end Andre Branch who should pair well with newly re-signed Jeremy Mincey at the other defensive end position. The Jaguars also drafted punter Bryan Anger. While the round Anger was drafted in raises a few eyebrows, the Jaguars were in need of a punter.

Football Outsiders and ESPN took a look at each team division by division to see what teams still needed post-draft. Football Outsiders notes the Jaguars still have some concerns on the offensive line.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Offensive line
The Jaguars came into the offseason with a couple of major holes that needed filling: wide receiver and defensive end. After spending their first two picks in the draft on Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon and Clemson defensive end Andre Branch, they have a lot more credibility at those positions. What they didn't address is the offensive line -- a strong run-blocking unit that did Blaine Gabbert no favors over the course of his nightmare rookie season.

Guy Whimper was one of the worst offensive tackles in the league last season -- FO's J.J. Cooperhad a scathing column on his play last year -- and the only obstacle to keep him from starting at tackle again is Eben Britton, whom the Jaguars wanted to turn into a guard last season.

Will Rackley, a third-round pick in 2011, won the starting nod at left guard. He showed some flash in the running game, but also allowed 6.5 sacks and looked every bit as lost as Gabbert did in a few games. Eugene Monroe is solid at left tackle but lacks the edge speed to match the best rushers in the NFL. Brad Meester is 35, and not the type of 35 that gets you "wily old vet" mentions like Matt Birk or Jeff Saturday. This is a unit that could have used some more solidification rather than the blind hope that Britton's return from a back injury will heal all.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country.

Justin Blackmon Held Out Of Jaguars Workout With Foot Injury

While many new Jacksonville Jaguars were taking part in Rookie Mini Camp workouts Sunday afternoon, top draft pick Justin Blackmon was held out with a sore right foot.

Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey describes the injury as just "general soreness" and is nothing serious. The coaching and training staff believed for it to be a good idea to keep him out of the workout to avoid further aggrivation. Blackmon is expected to be at full strength for full-team workouts, which begin May 15.

Blackmon, a wide receiver out of Oklahoma State, was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has yet to sign with the team.

For more news and analysis on the Jacksonville Jaguars during the offseason, head on over to Big Cat Country. Want more news from around the league? Check out the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest on all 32 teams during the offseason.

2012 NFL Draft Bust Factor: Justin Blackmon

With the NFL Draft now a week old, optimism for every single first round pick is at its peak. Fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars are excited that wide receiver Justin Blackmon is a part of their team. However, there is the possibility that he could wind up as a bust. Ryan Van Bibber of SBNation.com looked at a handful of players that have the potential of not living up to expectations as a first round draft pick.

The reason Van Bibber mentions Blackmon as a potential bust is because of the development of Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Jacksonville's quarterback situation is the biggest threat to Blackmon's development. Blaine Gabbert is fighting the bust label himself. In order to succeed, Blackmon needs a quarterback that can get him the ball.

Any good wide receiver has a decent quarterback to get the ball to him, so it makes sense why Van Bibber brings up Jacksonville's quarterback situation. He also talks about concerns about his maturity level which could or could not turn out to be a big deal.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country.

Jaguars Confirm 27 Invitees For Workouts

The Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up the draft on Saturday night, but their work continued all weekend as they signed undrafted free agents and narrowed their list of invitees for workouts. Among the list of invitees are three quarterbacks, one a local product. Jacksonville quarterback Joshua McGregor was invited for a workout. It's common for many NFL teams to invite local college players in for a workout, and McGregor will get a shot with the Jags. The other quarterbacks are two veterans, one with a name that many NFL fans already know. Jordan Palmer, the lesser known and lesser talented younger brother of Carson Palmer, was invited for a workout. Palmer had a spot on the Bengals behind his brother, but has consistently looked awful in exhibition NFL games.

Here's the full list of invitees, via Big Cat Country:

Rookies
Endicott TE Taylor Allen
Wagner S Jeremiah Brown
Liberty WR Mike Brown
Colorado State RB Raymond Carter
Norwich K Long Ding
UCLA S Tony Dye
Furman WR Chris Forcier
Concordia-St. Paul WR Charles Gilbert
Missouri OT Dan Hoch
Elon LB Joshua Jones
Virginia Tech OT Andrew Lanier
Jacksonville QB Joshua McGregor
Virginia C Anthony Mihota
Pennsylvania LB Erik Rask
South Carolina State LB Donovan Richard
Walsh G Derrick Showell
Mississippi CB Marcus Temple
Central Florida RB Ronnie Weaver
South Carolina K Jay Wooten
South Florida S Jerrell Young

Veterans
West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown (Colts)
Central Florida TE Ricky Kay
Ohio State DT Dexter Larimore (Saints)
Army FB Collin Mooney
UTEP QB Jordan Palmer (Bengals)
Tulsa DT Odrick Ray (Jaguars)
Harvard S Collin Zych (Cowboys)

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country.

NFL Draft Grades 2012: Jaguars Receive "C-" From Sports Illustrated

The draft analysis continues to come in, and the Jacksonville Jaguars did not receive a glowing review of their 2012 Draft from Sports Illustrated, who gave the Jags a "C-" grade.

They appreciated how the Jaguars were able to get Justin Blackmon with the No. 5 pick, yet the amount of reaches, including taking punter Bryan Anger in the third round, drew ire from SI and draft analysts everywhere.

"Things seemed to be going so well - the Jags moved up to get Blaine Gabbert a star wide receiver in Justin Blackmon (6) and Jacksonville pounced on DE Andre Branch (38) - and then, BAM!, punter. OLB Brandon Marshall was a gigantic reach at 142. Grade: C-plus"

There is obviously some concern among the fan base with the panning of this draft by many, although it will take years for the results to truly show.

For more on the Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country.

NFL Draft Grades 2012: Jaguars Receive "D+" From SB Nation

The draft grades continue to come, and in SB Nation's own version the Jaguars received an ugly D+ from NFL Editor Joel Thurmon.

Thurmon, like many others applauded the team's effort to bring in Justin Blackmon, he feels there are just too many other question marks in the remaining picks.

"Trading up for Justin Blackmon was a need-based decision. The Jaguars have been looking for a receiver for years and they may finally have one. Andre Branch has special talent, but we have to wait and see if it translates to the NFL. The punter is really what got me, selecting one in the 3rd round. Jeris Pendleton, the 7th round pick, also has some question marks.

Blackmon's the real deal, but there were some curious decisions in this draft."

Of course, time will tell whether this draft is a boom or a bust for the Jaguars.

For more coverage of the Jaguars, head on over to BIg Cat Country.

NFL Draft Grades 2012: Jaguars Receive B- From Pete Prisco Of CBS Sports

The analysis of this weekend's NFL Draft continues, with Pete Prisco of CBS Sports now weighing in his opinions. The mediocre feelings by Mel Kiper of ESPN toward the draft picks by the Jacksonville Jaguars are echoed by Prisco, who gave the Jaguars a B- on the weekend.

Here is his breakdown. Like many, Prisco felt the Jaguars had a strong opening, but blew their late-round picks on questionable selections.

Best pick: Moving up for Justin Blackmon was a nice decision. They had to get a big-play receiver.

Questionable move: Did they really draft a punter in the third round? Taking Bryan Anger there was the worst move of this draft -- by any team.

Third-day gem: Fifth-round linebacker Brandon Marshall is a tough player who should make the roster at a thin position. Scouts think he'll be good as a special-teams player.

Analysis: The first two picks of Blackmon and defensive end Andre Branch nailed it. Taking Anger really put a dark cloud over what should have been a really good draft. There is no justification for that pick.

Grade: B-

The jury is still out on how successful of a draft it was for the Jaguars, as fans will be eagerly awaiting to see this class on the field.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: ESPN's Mel Kiper Gives Jacksonville "C" Grade

The 2012 NFL Draft officially came to a close on Saturday evening, with teams using three days and seven rounds to bolster their squads for the upcoming season. The Jacksonville Jaguars added just six players in the draft, most notably trading up to take wide receiver Justin Blackmon at No. 5.

Now comes the time for instant (over)analysis by pundits. First up to bat, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, who gave Jacksonville an overall grade of "C" for this year's draft.

Summary: Give the Jaguars credit for hitting needs with their top two picks. Justin Blackmon isn't a guy you want to have to trade up for, but it didn't cost Jacksonville dearly, and the Jaguars had to find a receiver to complement Laurent Robinson. If they didn't get Blackmon or Michael Floyd, they would have been no closer to knowing if Blaine Gabbert can develop into a franchise quarterback. Andre Branch can start early. He's better when he goes wide -- he won't be able to rush through tackles -- but he's a viable guy for a team lacking any punch in the pass rush. Bryan Anger was the top punter on my board, but taking him in the third round, with several guys who profile as potential starting right tackles available? I didn't like that pick. The Jags also didn't adequately address the secondary. Their only pick at corner or safety was Mike Harris. He was my No. 27 corner prospect.

Given that Jacksonville chose a punter in the third round, albeit the highest-rated punter, I'm a little surprised Kiper didn't hand the Jaguars an even lower grade than "C".

For all the latest news and analysis on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For all the latest on the 2012 NFL Draft, please stop by Mocking the Draft. Still not enough football for you? The SB Nation NFL Hub Page has all the latest on all 32 teams from around the National Football League.

NFL Draft Results 2012: Jaguars Finish Draft Selecting Jeris Pendleton At No. 228.

The Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up their draft by taking a little-known defensive tackle, Jeris Pendleton, out of Ashland. Pendelton is 6'2 and 322 pounds, standing out in low Division III and in the Great Lakes conference at Ashland. He was told by five NFL teams, including the Falcons, Colts, and Saints, that he would receive an invite to camp but few expected him to go in the draft. Gene Smith and Mike Mularkey decided to take a flyer late in the draft, and find a potential rotation player along the defensive front.

For all the latest news and analysis on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country.For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, please visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation. For all the latest on the 2012 NFL Draft, please stop by Mocking the Draft. Still not enough football for you? The SB Nation NFL Hub Page has all the latest on all 32 teams from around the National Football League.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Jacksonville Selects Florida State Cornerback Mike Harris

With the sixth pick in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the 176th pick overall, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Florida State cornerback Mike Harris. Harris transferred to Florida State from El Camino Community College, and started for one year after mainly playing in nickel packages earlier in his career.

Harris is regarded as athletic and excellent in man coverage, with the hip flexibility and awareness to cover athletic receivers in the slot and on the outside. He is also a good tackler and proficient in blitz support off the edge.

For all the latest news and analysis on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, please visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation. For all the latest on the 2012 NFL Draft, please stop by Mocking the Draft. Still not enough football for you? The SB Nation NFL Hub Page has all the latest on all 32 teams from around the National Football League.

2012 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Selects Linebacker Brandon Marshall In Fifth Round

The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Nevada linebacker Brandon Marshall with the seventh pick in the fifth round, the 142nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Marshall started every game over the last three years at Nevada, and led the team in tackles both his junior and senior years. Issues with his athletic ability pushed him down some draft boards, but scouts do like his lanky frame and quick read-and-react ability to make plays. Marshall is weaker against the pass and has some problems playing zone.

For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation.For all the latest news and analysis on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For all the latest on the 2012 NFL Draft, please stop by Mocking the Draft. Still not enough football for you? The SB Nation NFL Hub Page has all the latest on all 32 teams around the National Football League.

2012 NFL Draft: Brian Anger Pick Makes Jaguars 'Losers'

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a pretty strong draft going through the first two rounds according to most pundits, but a perplexing decision in Round 3 has Will Brinson of CBSSports.com declaring the Jags a loser in the second day of the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars -- Jacksonville got aggressive on the first day of the draft, jumped up in the draft and snagged Justin Blackmon. Then they stole Andre Branch early in the second round, setting themselves up for a potentially dominant draft ... and then they took a punter in the third round. Jaguars fans should all buy Bryan Anger jerseys, if only to show their emotions in written form on their backs.

Even though Anger was by far the best punter in the draft, Anger would have been easily available in the next round or two.

You can head over to Big Cat Country for more on all things Jacksonville Jaguars football. You can also head over to Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page.

VIDEO: Rich Eisen Reacts To Jaguars Drafting A Punter In Round 3

2012 NFL Draft Results: Jaguars Select Punter Bryan Anger In Round 3

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected punter Bryan Anger of California with the No. 70 pick and seventh overall selection of the 3rd round. Anger was considered a draftable punter by many of the scouts, but it's still unusual to see a purely special teams contributor go on the second evening of the draft. He was considered a late-round pick, and is a consistent punter who hammered it for the Golden Bears.

The Jaguars do not currently have another pick on Friday evening, but they've shown a willingness to trade up and become a part of the constant movement in this year's draft. If they stand pat, their next selection will be Saturday afternoon with the No. 7 pick in the 5th round, pick No. 142 overall.

2012 NFL Draft: Andre Branch Selected By Jacksonville Jaguars With 38th Pick

With the 38th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Andre Branch, defensive end for the Clemson Tigers. These NFL Draft 2012 results confirm the projections for Branch, whom many scouts and evaluators felt was a late-first or early-second round selection.

The biggest knock on Branch when it comes to his pass rush is his first step. He's not the fastest off of the line of scrimmage, but when he gets going he is hard to stop. He recorded 10.5 sacks in his last season with the Tigers. His versatility could be used at linebacker if he is drafted by a team that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme.

The Jaguars' next pick is the 70th overall pick in the third round.

You can head over to Big Cat Country for more on all things Jacksonville Jaguars football. You can also head over to Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page.

PHOTO: Justin Blackmon's Madden Rating?

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Jaguars Get A 'B' From SB Nation For Justin Blackmon Trade Up

The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books, and even though we've been preparing for it for months, I don't think anyone was prepared for what we saw on Thursday. There were a handfuls of trade ups, and that included the the Jacksonville Jaguars moving up two spots to take Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon at No. 5 overall. The guys over at SB Nation have come out with their NFL Draft Grades and gave them a lowly "C" for their selection.

You need receivers, yes, but I thought they could've found a way to drop back and select Michael Floyd instead of Justin Blackmon. Moving up in the draft to select him would make me nervous.

I don't think anyone has any problems with Justin Blackmon and how he will fit in with the Jaguars offense, it just seems like they may have paid a little bit too much to trade up. There were reports leading up to the draft that had the Jaguars wanting to move back and acquire more picks, not lose them. That might have been the right play for a team with so many holes. Here is some more analysis from the guys at SB Nation on Youtube.

You can head over to Big Cat Country for more on all things Jacksonville Jaguars football. You can also head over to Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page.

Round 2 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Turns To Defense On Draft's Second Day

The Jacksonville Jaguars added an important piece to their offense in first round pick Justin Blackmon on Thursday night, but they have another pick coming up fast in the second and they could turn their attention to the other side of the ball. Mocking the Draft has already come out with a complete Round 2 NFL Mock Draft, and they have the Jaguars taking Clemson defensive end Andre Branch with the 38th overall selection.

Jacksonville made a great move in round one to trade up for Blackmon. But the team still needs to add edge rushers to help improve a spotty defense. Branch is the kind of player who can play with his hand down in four-man fronts and drop in coverage from the linebacker spot.

Branch isn't a pass rushing specialist, but he is very strong against the run and could be a solid addition to the Jaguars defensive line. He might not have the sack numbers of some of the guys the Jaguars could have taken with their first round selection, but you can't expect to replicate that type of production this much later in the draft.

You can head over to Big Cat Country for more on all things Jacksonville Jaguars football. You can also head over to Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Jaguars Select Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon At No. 5

After trading with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move up two spots to No. 5, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Blackmon instantly punches up the wide receiver corps for Mike Mularkey, and will be a prime target for second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Blackmon was the consensus top receiver in this draft, with elite size and speed. He is one of the most powerful receivers to come out in some time, with Mike Mayock saying he's "as good as anyone he's ever seen in college football at elevating" and finding the ball in the air.

In the trade with Tampa Bay, the Jags gave up a fourth-round pick to the Bucs to move ahead two spots.

You can head over to Big Cat Country for more on all things Jacksonville Jaguars football. You can also head over to Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page.

Jaguars-Buccaneers Trade: Tampa Bay Trades No. 5 Overall Pick To Jacksonville

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have traded their No. 5 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars

In exchange for that pick, the Bucs will now select at No. 7 overall, the pick formerly held by the Jaguars while also receiving Jacksonville's fourth round pick at 101 overall.

All signs are pointing to the Jaguars picking Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with their higher pick. It is still unsure who the Buccaneers will select, although it is believed that they will still select LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne at No. 7 overall.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft and the Jacksonville Jaguars, stay tuned to this StoryStream. For all the latest news and analysis on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results visit Mocking The Draft and the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for the latest news from all 32 NFL teams.

Jacksonville Jaguars Trade Rumor: Jags Could Move Up In 2012 NFL Draft For Justin Blackmon

The NFL reporters over at ESPN believe that the Jacksonville Jaguars could trade up from their current spot at No. 7 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, and if they do make a move, rumor has it they'll be selecting Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

One trade has enabled Jacksonville to now try to trade up for OSU WR Justin Blackmon. Jags pushing for deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2012

One trade has enabled Jacksonville to now try to trade up for OSU WR Justin Blackmon. Jags pushing for deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2012

However, while speaking on the NFL Network, analyst Charley Casserly said that he did not believe the Minnesota Vikings would be willing to move below No.5 overall. The Vikings have already traded down once, from No. 3 overall to No. 4 overall, swapping picks with the Cleveland Browns.

You can head over to Big Cat Country for more on all things Jacksonville Jaguars football. You can also head over to Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page.

2012 NFL Draft Schedule, TV Time, Streaming And More: Jaguars Pick No. 7 Overall

The Jaguars picked Blaine Gabbert in the first round last year, can they put some talent around him in 2012? Here is where you can watch the draft live.